Machine for electrically heating floor tile prior to removal



Sept. 3, 1968 H. E. MELTZER 3,400,244

MACHINE FOR ELECTRICALLY HEATING FLOOR TILE PRIOR TO REMOVAL Filed May 5, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 2 so #8 INVENTOR Z5 HENRY EMELTZER w z /w l Sept. 3, 1968 H. E. MELTZER MACHINE FOR ELECTRICALLY HEATING FLOOR TILE PRIOR TO REMOVAL 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 5, 1965 INVENTOR HENRY E. MELTZER BY W 7%"fi fi.

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I r- 390 I 5- z 97 77 94 INVENTOR HENRY E.MELTZER United States Patent O 3,400,244 MACHINE FOR ELECTRICALLY HEATING FLOOR TILE PRIOR TO REMOVAL Henry E. Meltzer, 1745 Flett St., Racine, Wis. 53403 Filed May 3, 1965, Ser. No. 452,706 3 Claims. (Cl. 219-228 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A device for heating floor tiles prior to removal has a square frame constructed of nested inverted pans defining an open bottom insulated chamber enclosing an exposed electric heating coil. 'In one version, the frame is of such size as to simultaneously heat a plurality of tiles and includes rol-lers adjustably mounted so as to lie even with the lower frame periphery in the heating position, but which raise the frame when it is desired to roll the device across the floor. Another version, provided with a stand-cover for selectably closing the bottom of the chamber, is designed to heat a single tile.

This invention appertains to floor tile removal and more particularly to new and useful improvements in a method and machine for heating and removing old tile from a floor surface.

When floor tile (such as vinyl and the like) becomes worn or certain pieces become damaged, it is necessary to remove the same and replace with new tile. It is the usual practice in laying tile of this type to prepare a mastic or glue, spread a section of the floor or subsurface with this tacky material, place the tile in proper position, roll the same and then allow the mastic material to set. Thus the tile becomes firmly bonded to the floor or subsurface. This, of course, makes it very difficult to remove the tile, and in the past, chisels and other instruments were used to chip and scrape the old tile from the floor. It has been learned, however, that it is almost impossible to economically remove tile in this manner, particularly if it 'has been properly laid, unless heat is utilized to first soften the mastic etc. Therefore, blow torches and other instruments providing flame and heat have been used to preheat the tiles prior to removing the same. This method of course scorches and damages the old tiles as well as adjacent pieces of tile, making it necessary to remove the entire floor or at least large sections thereof. When it would be desirable to remove only a small number of damaged or worn pieces extreme care must be exercised in preheating the tile to be removed so that adjacent pieces will not be damaged. The tile that is removed, of course, is damaged and generally cannot be re-used.

There has long been a need therefore, for some method and means for heating and removing old tile so that most of the old tile can be salvaged and re-used.

A primary object of my present invention is to provide a method and means for preheating tile prior to its removal so that the tile will not be damaged and so that it can be readily and easily removed and replaced.

A further object of my present invention resides in providing a machine for heating a number of tiles prior to their removal and which can be readily moved to the next adjacent set of tiles to heat these tiles as the previously heated tiles are removed. Thus an entire floor can be quickly and easily replaced, or a small section thereof, without resultant damage to the tiles being removed.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a machine which will confine the heat to the particular tiles being treated and which may be rolled along the surface of the tiles when it is desired to move the machine 3,400,244 Patented Sept. 3, 1968 to another set, novel means being provided to position the heating coils away from and adjacent to the tiles depending on whether or not the machine is being moved or is stationary.

Still another object of my present invention is to provide a novel machine for preheating tile having an at rest position and a rolling position wherein the rear wheels or rollers are mounted in such a manner as to lie even with the lower periphery of the frame in its at rest heating position, but raise the frame when it is desired to roll or move the machine.

A salient feature of my present invention resides in the provision of a novel pan or rest into which the machine may be moved and locked for easy storage and cooling after use, without unduly heating the surface upon which it rests.

A more specific object of my present invention is to provide a machine of a generally rectilinear shape having a pair of front rollers and a pair of rear rollers mounted on offset stub axles providing a novel handle for rotating the stub axles from a lower position which raises the frame and an upper position which lowers the frame to its at rest position, the handle also having stop means for limiting the raising and lowering of the stub axle.

Another object of my present invention is to provide a novel method for removing flexible floor tile including the steps of first preheating a set of tile, and second removing the preheated tile while an adjacent set of tile is being heated.

A further object of my present invention is to provide a centrally positioned stationary handle at the approxi mate axial center of the main frame to facilitate the handling and positioning of the machine from a kneeling position if desired.

Still another object of my present invention is to provide'a novel modified form of the machine wherein a single tile may be preheated when only one of the tiles or two are to be removed and replaced.

A further object of my invention is to provide a simple, practical and reliable construction that is economical to manufacture, easy to assembly and positive in its operation.

With the above and other objects in view, which will more readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood the same consists in the novel construction, method, combination and arrangement of parts herei-nafter more particularly described, illustrated and claimed.

A preferred and practical embodiment of my invention is shown in the accopanying drawings, in which,

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary plan view in perspective of a tiled floor illustrating a portion of the tile removed and a tile in the process of being removed, the position of the machine and its support pan also being illustrated in perspective;

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal vertical section through the machine shown in FIGURE 1 of the drawings, the section being represented by the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 3 is a bottom plan view of the machine as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 of the drawings;

FIGURE 4 is a vertical transverse section through the machine when locked to its supporting pan or base, the section through the machine being represented by the line 44 of FIGURE 1 of the drawings and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary end view of one of the rear wheels or rollers, certain parts being broken away and in section to illustrate details in the construction, the frame being shown in its lower position for preheating the tile;

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to FIGURE 5 of the drawings but illustrating the frame in its raised position 3 to facilitate the movement of the machine to another set of tile;--

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary transverse section through the rear wheel or roller illustrated in FIGURES 5 and 6 of the drawings, the section being taken on the line 7-7 of FIGURE 5, and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 8 is a side elevational view of a modified form of the invention illustrating a machine to be utilized for heating a single tile prior to its removal, the base being pivoted to the main body and shown in its operative position in dotted lines and in its full line position at rest, and

FIGURE 9 is a vertical transverse sertion through that form of the invention shown in FIGURE 8 of the drawings, the section being represented by the line 99 of FIGURE 8, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter M generally indicates one type of my improved machine for preheating a number of tiles T prior to their removal from the floor or subsurface F. As illustrated primarily in FIGURES 1 and 2 of the drawings, it can be seen that the machine includes broadly a main frame of a generally rectilinear shape, preferably in the shape of a square, of a size and configuration to completely surround and overlie four tile of standard dimensions. Obviously the machine could be made in any size and configuration to include six, eight or other number of tiles. It has been found, however, that from the standpoint of the worker removing the tile, four is an ideal number to be preheating, while the previously heated four tiles are being removed. The length of time necessary to properly soften the mastic works out perfectly for this method. Therefore, the frame 20 includes an outer preferably metallic inverted pan 21 to provide the depending side and end walls 22. The inner surface of the pan 21 is lined with a suitable insulation material 23 and then a smaller inverted metallic pan 24 is secured thereto and a final layer 25 of insulation material conforming to the inner surface of the pan 24 is provided. These four layers of material can be joined together in any suitable manner, such as by glue or riveting. Secured within the space 26 above the tile surface T are a number of insulated buttons 27 about which is trained the heat resistant wire or coil 28. The end terminations 29 of the heating coil 28 are connected in any desired manner to a source of electrical energy (not shown) through wire 30 which in turn is mounted in the stationary handle 31. Handle 31 is preferably secured adjacent the axial center of the frame 20 by means of the upright posts 32 and 33 respectively. I also provide a toggle switch 34 to make and break the circuit between the source of electrical energy and coil 28. Mounted for free rotation adjacent the forward end 35 of the machine is a pair of small wheels or rollers 36 and these rollers are preferably journalled for free rotation on L-shaped brackets 37 and it is to be noted that the outer peripheries of the rollers terminate just below the bottom edges of pans 21 and 24 and their insulation material 23 and 25. This allows the machine to roll free on its respective rollers 36 but when the frame is in its lower position such as FIGURE 2 the heat from the coil 28 will be confined totally within the space 26 and thus effectively preheat the tile and soften the mastic. Adjacent the rear of the machine is a flat strip 38 extending transversely thereof and having its end terminations upturned to provide vertically extending spaced ears 39. Rotatively mounted and extending through suit able aligned apertures on the ears 39 is a rod 40.

Attention is now directed in particular to FIGURES 5, 6, and 7 of the drawings, and it can be seen that the outer end termination of rod 40 is milled to provide an offset stub axle 41. The stub axle 41 is provided at each end of the rod 40 and is in exact alignment and mounted upon each stub axle 41 is an enlarged rear roller or wheel 42. This wheel obviously is freely rotatable in relation to its stub axle 41 and may be held on the axle in any desired manner, such as by the threaded bolt 43 and "bearing Washer 44. Fixedly secured adjacent the longitudinal center of the rod 40 is an upwardly extending operating handle 45 and thus it should be readily apparent that when the operating handle is moved in the direction of arrows, FIGURES 5 and 6, or from its full line position to its dotted line position FIGURES 1 and 2, that rod 40 will rotate and the offset stub axle 41 will be raised and lowered in relation to the tile surface T. Actually, this causes the raising and lowering of the rear end 46 of the main frame 20. In order to limit the movement of handle 45 to the two extreme positions of the stub axle 41, I provide the limit stop arrangement 47 and this includes a forwardly extending finger 48 and a U-shaped stop 49 secured to the pan 21 in such a manner that when the handle 45 is rotated in the direction of the arrows FIG. 6, the end 50 of finger 48 will engage the horizontally extending stretch 51 of the U-shaped stop 49. Thus, when the stub axle is in its lower position relative to the frame the rear portion 46 of the frame will be raised above the tile surface T and thus the machine can be readily rolled forwardly to the next adjacent set of tile. This finger 48 also engages the top surface of pan 21 when the handle 45 is moved in the direction of the arrows, FIG. 5 with stub axle 41 in its up position and the lower portion 46 of the main frame in its lower position adjacent to the tile surface T to confine the heat.

To utilize the machine shown and described in FIG- URES l to 7 inclusive, attention is directed to FIGURE 1 of the drawings, and it can be seen that certain of the tile in the area 52 have already been removed and that the machine is shown in its heating position with handle 45 tilted forwardly so that the heat is confined and directed to the four tiles lying directly beneath the machine. Previously heated tiles are then removed by utilizing any spatula type instrument, such as the one illustrated and indicated by the reference number 53. The previously heated tile not only is flexible and easy to remove but the mastic has been softened and the same will peel from the floor surface easily and readily without damaging of the tile being removed. Since the heat is not applied to the tile for a great period of time it does not discolor or damage the tile in any way, and it has been found that the time it takes to remove four tiles is just sufficient to preheat the four tiles. Thus when the remaining twotiles 54 are removed the machine M is moved forwardly by tilting handle 45 from its full line position to its dotted line position, thus raising the rear end 46 and pushing the machine forward to cover the next set of four tiles, and the tiles that have just been heated are then removed in the same manner as tile 54. When the work is completed, the machine is turned off but a certain amount of heat is still retained in the coil and within the space 26, and it might be dangerous to store the machine particularly near volatile or inflammable material. Thus, I provide a novel base or retaining pan and this pan or base 60 is preferably formed from a fiat sheet of metal to provide a horizontal wall 61 of a size and configuration to fit over the machine M and to receive the machine M completely thereunder. This pan 60 is also provided with parallel side edges 62 and a front wall 63. The rear is open so as to receive the machine that may be pushed thereon. I also line the lower horizontal wall 61 with a sheet of insulation material 64 so that very little heat will affect any surface that the base may be resting upon. The front wall is also provided with a short rearwardly extending horizontal ledge 65 formed with a rearwardly and upwardly extending end flange or lip 66. This acts as a guide to fit over and receive the forward end 67 of the machine M. In order to firmly lock the base 60 to the machine M when it is to be stored, sides 62 are provided with outwardly and angularly extending ends 68 and these ends 68 are provided with a slot 69, each slot being in proper alignment.

Mounted on the machine M in a position adjacent the slots '69 when the machine is in proper position on the base and with the forward horizontal wall 65 extending over the front end 67 of the machine, is a pair of latch members 70. Each latch member 70 merely includes a slidable bolt 71 held to the upper surface of the pan 21 as at 72. Thus, by moving the sliding bolt or latch 71 into its respective slot 69, the rear of the machine will be locked to the base 60. The entire assembly can be moved together and easily stored.

In FIGURES 8 and 9 of the drawings, I have illustrated a modified form designed primarily to preheating a single square shaped tile and in this form of the invention the outer casing 80 is preferably square in shape, and the inverted pans 81 are insulated one from the other by the material 82. Secured within the confined space 83 is the heating coil 28 and the coil is secured in the same manner as illustrated in FIGURES 1 to 7 of the drawings. Also provided is the handle 31 and this handle is firmly secured to the base or casing 80 by means of the upright members 32 and 33'. Wire 30 is also connected to the source of electrical energy not shown, and a toggle switch 34 is likewise provided to turn the machine on and off. Pivotally secured adjacent one end 84 of the base 80 is a stand and cover 85. The member 86 of pivot 87 is provided with a vertically extending length 88 so as to space the stand or cover 85 from the lower peripheral edge 89 of the base or casing 80. This aids in dissipating the heat when the machine is stored. Cover or stand 85 is also provided with four feet 90 on one surface thereof. 0n the opposite surface of the cover I provide spaced stop members 91 which engage the peripheral edge 89 to further support the cover from the base 80. In order to latch the cover or stand in its full line position as shown, I provide a female spring fingered latch piece 91 into which the male latch plate 92 engages. This member is of a standard construction and the male member 92 is similar in shape and configuration to male latch member 93 which is secured between two of the feet 90 on the opposite side of the cover. It should also be noted that the cover is of a size and configuration to overlie the outer peripheral edges 89 of base 80 and is also provided with an insulation sheet 94. In order to utilize the machine and to place the same over a tile for heating and softening the mastic, the cover must be pivoted or moved from the full line position to dotted line position and in that position male latch member 93 engages the spring fingers of female latch member 95 which in turn is secured to the top horizontal surface of the vertical support 96. This vertical support is merely in the form of a fiat plate having inwardly directed flanges 97 and the foot 98 of which is secured in any well known manner to the casing or base 80 preferably by a nut and bolt as shown. The vertical support 96 is further strengthened by the provision of brace member 99, which is secured to the upright member 33. Thus it can be seen that when the stand or cover 85 is pivoted to its dotted line position, the tile may be properly heated and the machine tilted so that it rests on the hinge or pivot portion 87 and the male latch member 92 when the tile is removed. If it is desired to heat and remove one additional tile the machine can then be placed back to its horizontal heating position. After use the cover is again pivoted to its full line position and to facilitate the ease of manipulating the cover, I provide a forwardly extending handle 100'.

Particular stress should be given to the machine shown and illustrated in FIGURES 1 to 7 of the application,

and again the method of utilizing the machine and heating the tile is stressed.

While I have shown and described certain specific ernbodiments of my invention, it will be understood that these embodiments are merely for the purpose of illustration and description, that various other forms may be devised and that changes may be made in the proportions and minor details of construction without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A machine for heating floor tile prior to removal including a horizontally extending frame of substantially square shape being of a size and configuration to cover approximately four tiles of standard dimensions, said frame having a fiat horizontally extending upper wall, depending side and end walls all defining a space above the tiles to be heated, said frame being constructed from a series of inverted nested pans of at least four in number, said pans being alternately of metal and of insulation material with the outermost pan being of metal and the innermost pan being of said insulation material, each of said pans including a horizontal upper wall and depending side and end walls, a heating element within said space secured to the inner surface of said last mentioned inverted pan, a plurality of buttons secured to the exposed horizontal surface of said inner pan, said heating element including an exposed coil of resistance wire trained about said buttons, a rigid handle secured to the axial center of the upper surface of said flat horizontally extending wall, a pair of aligned rollers mounted on the forward end of the machine, a pair of relatively large rollers rotatably mounted at the rear end of the machine, and means for raising and lowering the rear frame end in relation to the tile surface.

2. A machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein said means for raising and lowering the rear end of said frame includes a transversely extending rod mounted adjacent the rear end of the frame and adapted to be rotated about its longitudinal axial center, the end terminations of said rod extending beyond the sides of the machine and each having an offset stub axle, said relatively large rollers each being rotatably mounted on a respective stub axle and a handle rigidly secured to said rod for turning said rod and positioning said stub axle in a raised and lowered position.

3. A machine as set forth in claim 2, and means for limiting the movement of said handle to the two extreme positions of said stub axle.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 988,309 4/1911 Campbell 126-2713 1,528,948 3/1925 Prudem 219-228 X 1,789,269 1/1931 Beach 219-346 X 2,038,555 4/1936 Eidschun 219228 2,240,913 5/1941 Roskos 219228 X 2,588,185 3/1952 Walter 219-228 2,632,087 3/1953 DHarlingue 219-228 2,760,045 8/1956 Blue 219533 2,902,576 9/1959 Miller 219245 3,293,413 12/1966 Meltzer 219-533 FOREIGN PATENTS 363,160 11/1922. Germany.

ANTHONY BARTIS, Primary Examiner. 

